Cleaning device for floors

ABSTRACT

A cleaning device ( 100 ′) for floors, comprising a base body ( 10 ′) with a cleaning surface element ( 20 ), which can be detachably mounted on the front side ( 11 ′) thereof and which can be moistened in a dosed manner with a cleaning fluid. The cleaning device further comprises an adapter-receiving element ( 14 ) for a handle or a stem, a cleaning fluid supply container, a cleaning-fluid distributor area which is disposed on the front side ( 11 ′) of the base body ( 10 ′) and which is connected to the cleaning fluid supply container either directly or by means of at least one distributor channel in the base body ( 10 ′), and at least one cleaning-fluid pump which is used to pump cleaning fluid out of the cleaning fluid supply container into the cleaning surface element. The cleaning fluid pump is formed by an elastically deformable covering element ( 40 ) which seals a pump chamber ( 16;56 ) and which has a guide flange ( 41 ) and a flexible pump plate ( 42 ).

The invention relates to a cleaning device for floors comprising a base body, on whose front side is detachably mounted a surface cleaning element that is to be moistened by cleaning fluid and which comes into contact with the surface to be cleaned.

The cleaning device includes:

-   -   At least one handle grip or shaft adapter receiver;     -   At least one cleaning-fluid supply container;     -   At least one fluid distribution area positioned on the front         side of the base body and formed of at least one nozzle recess         to distribute and temporarily store the cleaning fluid that is         connected either directly or via at least one distributor         channel within the base body to the cleaning-fluid supply         container; and     -   At least one cleaning fluid pump to spray the cleaning fluid out         of the cleaning-fluid supply container into the surface-cleaning         element.

A cleaning device with the essential characteristics of the overall concept of Patent claim s known from PCT/WO 01/01841 A1 submitted by the Applicant. This cleaning device has proven useful for use on windowpanes. With the help of the integrated hand pump, cleaning fluid may be sprayed onto a replaceable surface-cleaning element without having to set down the cleaning device. It has been shown, however, that wiping a large floor surface with a hand device is tiring. The action radius here is limited by the length of the handle grip. Extensions are not possible since the lever for the cleaning fluid pump may be actuated only directly on the handle grip.

A cleaning device with a handle grip and a cleaning head is known from DE 38 02 402 A1 that includes an exit plate on its front side that comes into contact with the surface to be cleaned. This exit plate forms a wall of the cleaning head a surface cleaning element is mounted directly onto the aperture plate in the form of a sponge or several brush bristles. The cleaning fluid is sprayed from an inner cavity of the cleaning head onto the sponge or brush via the apertures of the aperture plate. However, the spray is not controlled, so that the cleaning fluid may drip from the sponge particularly when the cleaning device is pressed against the surface to be cleaned. It is also disadvantageous in that exchanging the surface cleaning elements is possible only together with the aperture plate, and with any necessary insert frame.

Further, DE 94 05 755.9 describes a device to clean windowpanes that also includes a handle grip with a cleaning head. The cleaning head includes a water supply container and a single exit aperture through which the cleaning fluid may be pumped into a cleaning sponge.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a cleaning device for floors of the abovementioned type of simple, inexpensive structure that allows for the cleaning of large floors with a surface cleaning element that is constantly moistened during the cleaning process.

This object is achieved by the invention wherein the cleaning-fluid supply container includes a recessed and/or outwardly extending, outwardly open pump chamber, and wherein the cleaning fluid pump is formed by a lid element which seals the pump chamber, is elastically deformable and which includes a guide flange and a flexible pump plate.

This arrangement has the advantage that the lid element required to seal the cleaning-fluid supply container also simultaneously performs the function of a cleaning fluid pump that thereby is very simply designed, and is both low-cost and not liable to mechanical malfunction. The lid element may be easily placed into the compatible pump chamber by the user, and may be easily replaced after wear or damage.

Force on the pump plate that is especially easy to exert with the foot causes the pump plate, made for example of elastomers, to deform, by means of which the pressure in the chamber below the pump plate that is filled with fluid is increased, and cleaning fluid is forced out from the supply container through at least one nozzle recess into the surface cleaning element. During this, the fluid is either directed into a distributor channel or injected directly into a fluid distributor area, where it is absorbed by the surface-cleaning element.

In a first advantageous embodiment of the invention, the cleaning-fluid supply container is formed by the hollow base body itself, which includes a pump chamber in its rear side, a recessed and/or outwardly extending pump chamber which is open to the outside. It is particularly advantageous if the base body is a blow-molded hollow plastic body that is low-cost and simple to manufacture. The relatively large opening of the pump chamber with lid removed also serves as a funnel, and allows simple filling of the base body. Thus, all functions that, based on the state of the art, are usually performed by a large number of different components are fulfilled by only two elements, namely the base body and the lid element.

Another advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the cleaning-fluid supply container is formed of a hollow supplemental tank that is placed onto the base body that includes, in its rear side a recessed and/or outwardly extending pump chamber, open to the outside. The advantages mentioned above also apply to this embodiment, which possesses the additional advantage that, when filling, only the supplemental tank need be carried to a water source instead of the entire cleaning device.

The guide flange of the lid element in both embodiments may continue into an enclosed supply chamber provided with at least one nozzle recess. Cleaning medium, particularly in concentrated form, may be held in reserve in this supply chamber and sprayed by means of pressure on the pump plate into main supply chamber formed by the base body or supplemental tank and filled, for example, with clean water.

For this, the entire lid element with supply chamber is preferably shaped as a bellows of elastomer material.

An advantageous variation further provides that several pump chambers with corresponding lid elements are provided with and without a supply chamber. The pump chambers conduct fluid between one another and/or are connected with the fluid distribution area. Thus, either various cleaning fluids may be placed into the supply chambers of the lid elements, or a first lid element is provided purely for the pumping function and a second lid element from which cleaning medium concentrate may be sprayed into the supply container.

The invention is described in greater detail below with reference to the illustrations, which show:

FIG. 1 a first embodiment of the cleaning device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 a, b a perspective view of the base body of the cleaning device according to the invention seen from the front and the rear;

FIG. 3 a second embodiment of the cleaning device according to the invention; and

FIG. 4 a cutaway view of the snap mechanism in the embodiment example shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the cleaning device 100 based according to invention with a view of the rear side 12 of the base body 10. The base body 10 is preferably a blow-molded hollow plastic body, polyethylene for example, and serves simultaneously as the cleaning-fluid supply container.

Securing elements 21, . . . , 24 for a surface cleaning element 20 are located in the corner areas of the base body 10. The surface cleaning element 20 is preferably a section of a textile cleaning cloth of micro fiber or fleece that possesses a known good cleaning effect particularly when moist for all conventional household contaminants such as dust and grease deposits.

The securing elements 21, . . . , 24 are preferably disks of a flexible material into which a cross- or star-shaped slot 22.1 has been cut. The segments of the securing elements separated from each other by the slot 22.1 may thus be individually deformed. A surface cleaning element 20 may be laid on the front side 11 of the base body 10 and attached to it by pressing it through the slots 22.1 of the securing elements 21, . . . , 24.

Further, Velcro tabs may be used as securing elements.

FIG. 2 a shows the base body 10 with a view of the front side 11. The front side 11 includes recesses 11.3, 11.4 into which Velcro strips may be secured while recessed. A sponge element (not shown) may be mounted onto it that is positioned between the base body 10 and the surface-cleaning element 20. It may serve as an intermediary reservoir for fluid and/or it may compensate for floor unevenness by means of its elasticity, thus pressing the full surface of the surface-cleaning element 20 onto the surface to be cleaned.

Fluid distribution areas 11.1, 11.2 are provided in a central area of the base body 10, each of which are formed by one or more nozzle recesses 13, and through which cleaning fluid may flow out of the cleaning-fluid supply container formed by the base body 10.

A pump chamber 16 open to the rear is formed on the rear side 12 shown in FIG. 2 b.

Also, at least one handle grip or shaft adapter receiver 14 is shaped to which handle grips or longer shafts provided with compatible adapter elements 60, 61 may be attached, e.g., by a simple snap fit.

Receiver chamber recesses 18.1, . . . , 18.4 are formed at each of the corners that, as FIG. 1 shows, are covered on the cleaning device 100 by a securing element 21, . . . , 24. The receiver chamber recesses 18.1, . . . , 18.4 allow for the segments of the securing elements 21, . . . , 24 formed by the slots 22.1 to be deformed downward and to receive the clamped tips of the textile surface cleaning element 20 into the securing elements 21, . . . , 24.

The pump chamber 16, as FIG. 1 shows, is covered during proper use of the cleaning fluid 100 by the lid element 40 that is particularly mushroom-shaped with a tube-shaped guide flange 41 (see FIG. 3) and a convex pump plate 42 raised above the rear side 12 of the base body 10. The pump chamber 16 compatible with it is preferably cylindrical in shape. The pump plate 42 is centered within the pump chamber 16 by means of the guide flange 41, and a water-and air-tight seal is achieved about the circumference of the guide flange 41 with the wall of the pump chamber 16.

The convex pump plate 42 raised above the rear side 12 of the base body 10 may be deformed (inward), or compressed by foot effort in order to pump cleaning fluid. Thus, pressure in the pump chamber 16 and in base body 10 connected with it and filled with cleaning fluid increases so that cleaning fluid is forced out through the at least one exit recess 13 into the fluid distribution areas 11.1, 11.2. The cleaning fluid is then either temporarily stored in the sponge element (not shown) and then added as the surface-cleaning element dries out, or is fed directly to the surface cleaning element 20 through stamped slots to the sponge element.

In the second embodiment of a cleaning device 100′ shown in FIG. 3, the base body 10′ does not serve as the cleaning-fluid supply container. Instead, a separate supplemental tank 50 is provided that is detachably mounted to the base body 10′. The base body 10′ also includes at least a handle grip- or shaft adapter receiver 14 and receiver chamber recesses 18.1, . . . , 18.4 into which securing elements 21, 22 may be emplaced.

Additionally, the base body 10′ includes at least two snap recesses 19′ that extend through from the front side to the rear side 12′. When the supplemental tank 50 is placed onto the base body 10′, studs that are positioned on the underside of the supplemental tank 50 are guided into the snap recesses 19′. Nozzle recesses 53 are positioned on the underside of the studs 52 through which cleaning fluid is fed to a sponge or surface cleaning element 20 lying against the front side 11′ when the pump plate 42 is actuated. The supplemental tank 50 also includes a pump chamber 56 that is covered and sealed by a lid element 40. Structure and function of the cleaning fluid pump formed by the pump chamber 56 and the lid element 40 correspond to the first embodiment of a cleaning device 100 described above.

The snap mechanism is shown in FIG. 4 in detail. Two spring snap rods 19.2′ are positioned within the base body 10′ that extend parallel to each other across the cross-section of the snap recess 19′. The mushroom-shaped stud 52 presses the snap rods 19.2′ apart when the supplemental tank 50 is placed onto the base body 10′. Once the mushroom-shaped head of the stud 52 passes through the snap rods 19.1, these rods recoil by spring action into their initial position and rest in a groove 52.1 or directly on the shaft of the stud 52. Thus, the supplemental tank 50 is affixed to the base body 10′. In order to prevent the rods 19.2′ from ripping out when the supplemental tank 50 is removed, the area of the snap recess 19′ with inserted snap rods 19.2′ is covered by a cover plate 19.1′ that is inserted into a corresponding recess on the rear side 12′ of the base body 10′ and is attached to the base body 10′. This cover plate 19.1′ includes a recess largely even with the snap recess 19′. The nozzle recess 53 lies free within the snap recess 19′ open to the front side 11′. 

1. Cleaning device for cleaning floors comprising a base body, on whose front side is a surface cleaning element mounted in a detachable fashion that comes into contact with the surface to be cleaned and that is to be moistened by cleaning fluid, said cleaning device further comprising: (a) means for holding a handle or handle shaft; (b) at least one cleaning-fluid supply container; (c) at least one fluid distribution area positioned on the front side of the base body and formed of at least one nozzle recess to distribute and temporarily store the cleaning fluid that is connected either directly or via at least one distributor channel within the base body to the cleaning-fluid supply container; and (d) at least one cleaning fluid pump to spray the cleaning fluid out of the cleaning-fluid supply container into the surface cleaning element; the improvement wherein the cleaning-fluid supply container includes a recessed and/or outwardly extending, outwardly open pump chamber, and wherein the cleaning fluid pump is formed by a lid element which seals the pump chamber, is elastically deformable and which includes a guide flange and a flexible pump plate.
 2. Cleaning device as in claim 1, wherein the cleaning-fluid supply container is formed by a hollow base body that includes a pump chamber in its rear side which is open to the outside.
 3. Cleaning device as in claim 1, wherein the cleaning-fluid supply container is formed by a supplemental tank removably placeable onto the base body that includes a recessed and/or outwardly extending, outwardly open pump chamber.
 4. Cleaning device as in claim 1, wherein the lid element is mushroom-shaped with a tube-shaped guide flange and a convex pump plate raised above the rear side of the base body, and wherein the pump chamber is preferably cylindrical in shape.
 5. Cleaning device as in claim 1, wherein at least one of the base body and supplemental tank includes two pump chambers into each of which a lid element is inserted.
 6. Cleaning device as in claim 1, wherein the pump plate is raised above the surface of the rear side of the base body.
 7. Cleaning device as in claim 1, wherein the base body is a blow-molded hollow plastic body.
 8. Cleaning device as in claim 1, wherein at least one securing element is positioned to hold the surface cleaning element on at least two opposing sides of the base body.
 9. Cleaning device as in claim 8, wherein the securing elements are formed of Velcro tabs.
 10. Cleaning device as in claim 8, wherein the securing elements are plate-shaped, and wherein chamber recesses are mounted in the base body below the securing elements for receiving the securing elements.
 11. Cleaning device as in claim 1, wherein the surface-cleaning element comprises a moisture-permeable textile or sponge-like material.
 12. Cleaning device as in claim 1, wherein the supplemental tank includes on its lower side facing the base body at least one stud with at least one nozzle that is insertable into a compatible snap recess in the base body.
 13. Cleaning device as in claim 12, that wherein the snap recess includes at least two parallel snap rods that extend across the snap recess, and between which the stud of the supplemental tank may be snapped.
 14. Cleaning device as in claim 1, wherein the surface-cleaning element is produced from a material selected from the group consisting of woven fabric, knitted fabric, and micro fiber fleece.
 15. Cleaning device as in claim 1, wherein the fluid distribution area on the base body includes a fluid-distributing capillary matrix.
 16. Cleaning device as in claim 1, wherein at least one flexible sponge element is positioned between the base body and the surface-cleaning element.
 17. Cleaning device as in claim 16, wherein the sponge element is connected with the base body by means of Velcro strips mounted in recesses of the base body.
 18. Cleaning device as in claim 1, wherein at least one stripping lip of elastomer material is mounted on the front side of the base body to serve as a squeegee.
 19. Cleaning device as in claim 10, wherein the plate shaped securing elements each include a cross or star shaped slit. 